The original Scosche boomBOTTLE impressed me. A Bluetooth speaker built for use indoors and out, it pumped out excellent sound in every direction. And it had the added benefit of fitting into a bike’s water bottle cage! Now Scosche has released the Scosche boomBOTTLE+. It keeps a similar design and is a worthy update to an already-impressive Bluetooth speakers.
The boomBOTTLE+ is available in three different colors.
The review sample I was sent is black and space gray. I like the simple, unobtrusive look it brings. The speaker looks understated but promises to impress and does.
Here’s what Scosche has to say about the new Scosche boomBOTTLE+:
Welcome to the shape of amazing go-anywhere sound and indoor/outdoor music versatility captured in the latest member of the award-winning boomBOTTLE family, the rugged, waterproof, wireless, boomBOTTLE® + portable speaker. This rugged beauty includes exceptional features like two 50mm high-quality speakers, dual pairing for true stereo sound, switchable equalization (EQ) for sound enhancement outdoors and a powerful, internal rechargeable battery for you to charge your mobile devices from the speaker.
But wait, there’s more! Great sound wrapped in a sleek frame: Equipped with dual 50mm drivers, the integrated omnidirectional diffuser channels music in all directions, creating 360 degrees of immense sound. A large passive subwoofer housed in a tuned and ported enclosure delivers incredible bass.
The two 50mm speakers sit at the top and the bottom of the BoomBOTTLE+. In each case, the grill makes an appearance three different times as one looks around the device. The result is that each speaker puts out sound in every direction so you get a full 360 degrees of sound. That, in and of itself, makes this different than most speakers which sound best when the listener is positioned in one specific place in relation to the speaker. And since there are two speakers, one at each end, when the speaker is laid down horizontally you get a bit of speaker separation. If you want more you can pick up a second Boombottle+ and use the two as a stereo pair.
A large passive subwoofer housed in the tuned and ported enclosure works with the 50mm speakers to deliver huge sound with impressive bass.
In order to create a stereo pair you switch one speaker to L(eft) and the other to R(ight) in the area of covered settings. When a single speaker is used you will want this setting set to the middle position (S) so a single Boombottle+ puts out stereo sound.
Speaking of the manual setting, beneath a weatherized window you will find a microUSB charging port, a full-size USB port that delivers 2.1A for charging other devices using the 6000mAh battery powering the boomBOTTLE+, a toggle to switch between indoor and outdoor sound modes, the aforementioned three-position toggle for creating a stereo pair or using a single boomBOTTLE+ on its own, an AUV In input for connecting the speaker to the audio source using a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, and a power indicator light. (The battery will give you up to 15 hours of music playback.)
All of these controls are kept safely behind a weatherproof door. What’s worth noting here is that the door has a pull tab that makes opening it a simple, one-second operation. That stands out compared to speakers that require you to wedge a nail behind such doors in order to open them.
Like the speaker at the bottom of the boomBOTTLE+, the speaker at the top has the Scosche name and three different grills so you get sound from every position.
The top also has a metal piece into which an included carabiner clip can be inserted.
That carabiner clip lets you hang and secure the boomBOTTLE+ easily. Clip it to a cabinet and get great sound in your kitchen. Clip it to the rail on your sailboat and cruise to your favorite tune. The clip means the speaker won’t take a swim. If it does, however, no need to worry… the boomBOTTLE+ floats!
On the bottom of the boomBOTTLE+ is a second way to secure the speaker- a 1/4″ standard threaded screw. That means you can set it on a tripod and rock our that way!
(As you can see, the speaker has a battery capacity of 3100mAh times two for a total of 6000mAh!
The boomBOTTLE+ is packed with features. Among them are:
- Boost your music in loud environments: The wireless portable speaker comes with a selectable Indoor/Outdoor EQ function that delivers bold rich sound in all environments. Switch it to OUTDOOR and let the outdoor party begin! Don’t forget to invite the neighbors.
- Built-in music controls makes controlling your tunes a snap: Large rubberized front buttons make it easy to skip tracks and adjust volume even when your smartphone or tablet is safely tucked away.
- Power to play. Power to work!: With its 6000mAh rechargeable battery, you’ll enjoy up to 15 hours of continuous music. With boomBOTTLE+, you can quickly charge up your smartphone, tablet or other mobile device while enjoying you music via the 2.1A USB charging port.
- Works with popular cameras and other mounts: The portable speaker comes equipped with a ¼ inch thread bottom plate so you can mount boomBOTTLE + on a camera tripod or other mounting systems.
- Lagniappe included (Pronounced: lan-yap. An unexpected or indirect benefit.): Your boomBOTTLE® + purchase includes a handy carabiner clip, great for hooking your speaker to a backpack. And it also comes with a 12W/2.4A USB wall charger and USB charging cable so you are ready to go.
And since you don’t want to have to open the waterproof door to control your music Scosche put audio controls- play/pause, louder, softer- on the exterior of the speaker. In all it is a thoughtful design that lends itself to use both at home and on the go.
Technical Specification:
- Bluetooth: BT 4.0 AVRCP, A2DP for 33 Ft. Wireless Range
- Audio: 2 x 50mm Speakers, Passive Subwoofer
- Frequency Response: 150hz – 20Khz
- Impedance: 4ohm
- Output: 12W x 2 Speaker output
- 6000mAh Internal Battery (Output Charging: 10W)
- Dimensions: 218mm (H) X 72mm (D)
- Weight: 1.5lbs
Here’s a look at the speaker on video!
In all, this $179.00 Bluetooth speaker does it all. It works great as an in-home speaker but is also ready for your bike ride, your sailing trip or just about anything else you might want to do with music along for the trip. You can learn more here!
Get it here for prices that start at $143! [Affiliate link]
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample of the Scosche boomBOTTLE+
What I Like: Sleep; Compact; Understated; Pumps out loud good-quality audio; Waterproof; Floats; Can be used in a stereo pair; 15 hours of audio playback; Will charge your phone; Can become a stereo pair; Fits in a bike water bottle cage.
What Needs Improvement: No companion app (if you like that sort of thing); On standard 10m/33ft range while some new speakers have Bluetooth 4.1 and get three times that.